Seed planter



P. S. PALMER SEED PLANTER Oct. 3, 1933.

Filed July 9, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Hzkp ,6? Win62* ATTORNEYOct. 3, p. 5 PALMER SEED PLANTER Filed July 9. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR 9i Miter 3 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 3,1933 f E l A. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEED PLANTER Philip S. Palmer, Spokane,Wash., assigner of one-half to George W. Putnam, Spokane, .l/ash.

Application July 9, 1932. Serial N0.'621,660

10 Claims. (Cl. 221--130) This invention relates to improvements innection with the accompanying drawings and planters and is addressed tothe mechanism, the which will be more particularly pointed out inmethod, and an article therefor. and by the appended claims.

The device of this invention relates more par- In thedrawings: l

ticularly to small planters primarlly'intended for Fig. l is a plan viewofthe device of my in- 50 garden iruck use such as are propelled ordrawn -Vention showing the marker in one position. manually, and it isone of the objects of therin- Fig. 21is a sectional View on line 2 2 ofFig. 1 vention to provide a planter of this type rthat and lookingtoward the right of the latter. f is equally adapted for drilling seedinrows or j Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig.

dropping seed in hills. 2, looking toward the'leftof the latter. t g5 Itis an object of the invention to maintain Fig. 4 is `an enlargedsectional view on line a mass of seed in a free condition for dischargev4 4 of Fig.3 with a portion of the seed releasing by gravity and to rolland maintain said loose ring broken away.

mass of seed in a constant state of motion to pre- Fig. 5 is a sectionalview on line 5 5 lof Fig. 3.

vent packing thereby affording the greatest possi- Fig. .6 is a view inelevation, partly insection, 73 ble facility for uniform discharge ofthe seed inand taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3, and looking dividually or inpredetermined quantities. toward the left.l

A further object is to 'dispose a loose mass of Fig).` 7 is afragmentary view of a portion of seed in a position to discharge bygravity when the combined retaining and tension ring showthe planter isin operaion and being advanced ingthe same in elevation. 75 but toprevent loss and waste of seed when the Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectionalview on line planter is standing idle. 8 8 of Fig. 2, with the hopperomitted and show- A special feature of the invention is to provide inghow the tension ring is secured in place. a seed casing adapted tocontain the seedv to be Fig. 9 is a developed plan view of a seedreplanted and to equip the same with a ring race leasing' ring Awith oneaperture y and which is 80 whereby any one of ai series of seedreleasing rings adapted for dropping seed in hills. may be selectivelyinserted ino said race in ac- Fig. 10 is a similarview of a ring with aplucordance with the character of seed to be planted. 'rality of spacedapertures adapted for drilling The invention alsoV relates and residesin said seed in rows.

3o seed releasing rings as articles of manufacture,r Fig. 11 is asimilar View of anotherring having 85 the said rings being ci differentthickness and a plurality of large apertures. f having seed releasingapertures of different char- Fig. 12 is a sectionalV view on line 12-12of acier to accommodate diferent'ki'nds ofseed. Fig. 9 showing how thering is made relatively A special feature of the improved seedreleasthick for large size seed. v

ing rings resides in the latter being provided withV Fig. 13 is asectional view on line 13 13 0f '90 seed reieasing apertures that areenlarged from Fig. 11, showing a relatively thin ring. the entrancethereof so as to provide reservoirs Fig. 14 is a sectional view on line14-14 of for a plurality of seeds before the seeds are Fig. 12. Yactually discharged from the casing. Fig. 15 is a sectional view on line15 15 of 1lo The invention involves novel mechanism adapt- Fig. 1. 95ing the casing for the reception of any of the Like characters ofreference designate similar series of rings and holding eac-h not onlyin driven parts throughout the different gures of the engagement butunder proper tension. drawings.A

A further feature of the invention is a novel The improved planterincludes ground wheel type of seed feeder which is preferably in thedriving mechanism which in the present embodi- 190 form of a hopperandwhich not only performs ment comprises a driving ground .or bearingwheel that function, but in addition, the function of 1 and componentparts to be later described. closing one side of the seed casing. VWhileit is possible to employ a single wheel The invention also includes anovel form of mechanism, I prefer to use an additional wheel markerwhich can' be shifted from one side to the 2, which is solely asupporting ground wheel. A 105 other by the user when ending a row, bymeans saddle or yoke 3, is bent upwardly and secured readily accessibleat the hand grip end of the by a nut or the like 4, to the axle 5, ofwheel 2,

handle. so that the yoke 3 is rotatively -journalled to said Theinvention has many other features and axle, and the latter may berigidly secured to objectsl which will be more fully described inconwheel 2. `110 A seed containing casing is indicated at 6 and is shownto be of cylindrical form and is disposed in an upright position. Saidcasing has a side wall 7 disposed adjacent wheel 1, the remaining sideof said casing being open, or in other words, that side adjacent wheel2, is open. The cylindrical wall 6, is suitably provided with an annularor radially projecting flange 8, and the side wall 7, is provided with athickened portion 9 in which one end of a shaft 10 is rotatively jour-`nalled. Said shaft 10, forms an axle for wheel 1, the hub 11 of thelatter being secured to said shaft by a set screw or in any desiredmanner sul that when wheel 1 turns, it will drive shaft 10. A ringdriving member preferably in theform of a disc 12, is disposed and heldagainst the inside face of wall 7, and is non-rotatively mounted onshaft 10, as by means of a polygonal portion 13 and a nut 14.

The balance of the interior of casing 6, constitutes aring race 15,which is'cylindrical and which is disposed about a horizontal axis,prefer. ably, coincident with the axis of shaft 10. In Figs. 3, 4 and 5,I have'shown a seed releasing ring A" disposed in said race and in thelast named figure, the ring A is connected in driven relation with saiddisc y12 by means such as a pin and socket connection, Yas generallyindicated' at 16, so thatwhen the ring is slipped into position from theopen side Voi casing 6, with the socket in registry' with the pin, theconnection is automatically made. The seed releasing rings will be laterdescribed in detail. `I have shown ring A broken away at the left ofFig. 4, to clearly designate the ring Arace 15.

Reference will next be made to the lmeans for maintaining the seedreleasing ring in position and alsoin the desired tension adjustment.

A combined retaining and tension ring is indicated at 17 (Figs. 7 and8)v and the same is chamfered or cammed at 18 at diagrammaticallyopposite points. Wing headed screws 19 are threaded into flange 8 andhave conical ends 20, for engagement withv the cammed portionslS so thatrany desired tension against the outer face of ring A, may be obtained,and whereby the ring A will in any event be heldagainst the disc 12 tomaintain a driving connection. I -re' cess flange 8, to accommodate ring17 so that the `latter will be, disposedslightly inside the outer faceof flange 8, as shown-in Fig. 8. Further, I may slightly recess theflange 8, as shown at 21, to afford leeway for adjusting ring A todifferent positions of tension. It will be noted that the ring 17 cannotrevolve when secured in position because of the frictional engagement ofscrews 19 and also because the recesses 18 provide convenient shoulders22. Y

By reference to Figs. 4 and-5, it will now be clear that the imperforatedisc 12 and the rings A and 17, t so snugly that no chaff can gainentrance between or behind either thereof. It will also be clear vthatif too much tension was applied to ring 17, wheel 1, could not turnv orthere would be an objectionable drag on the planter. Hence, it isimportant to give ring 17 yjust enoughtension to make'the snugly ttedparts to run smoothly'and still fit tightly.

The seed casing 6 is provided with a seed discharge opening, as shown inFig. 4, and which is preferably elongated, the lower terminal beingindicated at 28 and the upper terminal at 424. This4 opening,which Iwill generally indicate at B, is sufliciently wide to register with vanysize said race 15, which lower center I will designate at C. Thus, whentheAplanter is not being advanced, the seed cannot flow through and bewasted. Further, the opening B is elongated to such an extent asV toafford plenty of time for 'a seed to pass through the ring A, and not besliced by the upper margin 24, of said opening. This slicing of seed isvery objectionable as its fragments work in between the revolving partsand cause friction. y

Depending from the casing 6, in registry with discharge opening B, is atube 25 that conveys the released seeds to a shoe 26, secured to saidtube, and which may be of the usual construction.

in angle or saddle plate is shown having one section 27, secured to wall7 of casing 6, as shown in Fig. 6, and another section 28 adapted to besecured to yokeV 3, as shown in Fig. 3, the yoke 3 having a section 29which may be bent up and secured to section 27, if desired. At any rate,fthe intermediate frame structure between wheels l and 2, consistsofyoke 3, saddle 28 and casing V6, and this rigidly connected structure isjournalled rotatively on wheels 1 and 2 so that it can be tiltedthereon, as will ncw be clear.

Reference will next be made to the novel means for supplying the casing6 with seed.

A supply means is provided which is preferably in the form of a hopperhaving a back wall 30, end walls 31 and an inclined front wall 32. Ahinged lid 33, is provided for closing the top of said hopper. The rearWall 30, as shown in Fig. 2, extends laterally of the hopper and issuitably notched at 34, to permit anchoring screws threaded into flange8, to inipinge said wall and hold the hopper against the open side ofrseed casing 6, to close vthe latter, as shown in 3 and 5. The rear wall30 is provided with a seed delivery opening 36 for delivery of seed bygravity from the hopper into casing 6. In order to regulate the extentof such delivery and thereby control or determine the depth of seed incasing 6, I provide means which will next be described.

As shown, such means may take the form of a plate 37 that may befrictionally held tightly by guides 33, so that the plate may be movedup or down by ledge 39 to cause the lower edge 40 to limit flow of seedand hence limit the depth of seed in the casing 6. By thus limiting thelevel of seedfin casing 6, the apertures in rings A cannot afford freeiiow and waste of seed through opening B, when the planter is standingstill. Further, a shallow depth of seed in the casing is highlydesirable as the discharge into the ring apertures is greatlyfacilitated, as will later appear.

Reference will next be made to the improved seed releasing rings.

It is contemplated that each planter will be y supplied with a series ofrings A all of the same outer diameter so that all will lit the ringrace 15 snugly and all of the rings will have a socket ico los

llO

in a position for engagement with the pin in disc 12, designated by 16.Further, all of said rings wiil be of the same width so as to comewithin the range of the tension ring I7. A furthercharacteristic of allthe rings, in the most preferred construction, is that in addition totheperiphery 41 being the same, the inner face of each ring will preferablyincline radially'outwardly from the side edges 42, to the center, asindicated in Fig. 14, at 43. Thus the seed carried by the inner face ofthe ring will, in addition to gravity, have a tendency to move towardthe center of the ring.

Referring to Figs. 9 to 13, I have shown a se,- ries of seed releasingrings in developed plan and longitudinal section. The ring D, has asingle seed releasing opening 44 and this ring would be employed whenthe planter is used to drop seed in hills, and the ringv D would makeone revolution before the aperture 44 reached `dischargeopening B. Itwill be understood that of this invention, in view of the abovedisclosure.

In addition to the foregoing, it is a featureof this invention toprovide seed releasing apertures of a novel form for the performance ofa new function.V

In most cases, it is desirable to discharge more than a. single seed ateach dropping, especially when operating with small size seed and it isessential to avoid `waste by not discharging too many or more thannecessary, and in a gravity device, this problem necessitates a solutionentirely different from other types of machines, `especially when thereis added to the foregoing,

the desirability of discharging seed in uniform quantities.

Therefore, while a simple form of aperture is vwithin the province ofthis invention, still, it is a very special feature thereof to providewhat I will term accumulative or reservoir apertures wherein a pluralityof seeds can be released from the casing into the ring A and segregatedor held until the moment of final discharge.

One way of accomplishing this function is to provide releasing apertureswhich are coned, and in the drawings I have shown allthe aperturestapered as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 12, in connection withaperture 44, in which the inner face of ring D, is indicated at 47 andthe outer face at 48. Thus it will be seen that aperture 44 is coned ortapers from the discharge terminal 49 to the intake terminal 50, thelatter being the smallest. Hence the apertures converge radiallyinwardly of the ring. Now it will be clear that seed can enter theaperture at C, in Fig. 4, until the reservoir is completely filled, andthese seed will be held in the aperture until the latter is advanced tothe discharge opening B. This applies Ato large, as well as small seed.It

will also be clear that if the seed level in theV casing is at G, inFig. 4, the aperture will not discharge until it reaches an elevationabove the seed level so that it cannot againYre-ll. Thus, seed isreleased `subjacent the mass and discharged above the mass.

Another feature of the invention resides in making rings of differentthickness to handle seed of different character, .which willnext beexplained. u

For instance, cucumber seed is an elongated seed much Ythe shape of oatsand of course if the entrance to the releasing aperture was merely equalto the transverse diameter of such seed, the latter could not enter `theaperture unless it entered endwise. Therefore, it is necessary lto makevthe entrance large enough to admit this small type of seed when thelatter is lying flat, and hence the diameter of the entrancev must beequal to the length of the seed. For such seed, I use a relatively thinring, as indicated at F in Fig. 13, because I do not Want the reservoiras proportionately large as with a spherical seed and therefore it isnecessary not to have such a depth of reservoir in Order to accommodatethe required number of seed. In this manner, I am enabled to deal with aseed such as a cucumber seed, for instance, and still retain the gravityfeature.

For peas beans and corn, I use a thicker releasing ring withcorrespondingly larger size apertures, the ring being thick enough sothat two or more seed can be accommodated by the reservoir.

In any event, it will be seen that the seed releasing ring A is uprightor vertically disposed and that it rotates about a substantially.horizontal axis and the seed is delivered to the ring and maintained ata relatively'shallow depth. Thus, as the ring rotates, it continuallysupports the seed mass on its lower inner face, and the mass is rolledas the ring rotates and is maintained in constant motion to` therebyfacilitate entrance of the subjacent seed from the mass into theapertures.V

It will also be seen that these rings are in the form of circular bandsof material and that the seed releasing apertures are disposed betweenthe lateral side edges of these ring bands thereby affordingintermediate and lateral surface imperforate portions to support theloose mass of seed.

A handle bar 51, is shown rigidly secured to a metal strap 52, which isanchored to casing 6, as shown in Fig. 6. On the outer end of saidhandle bar 5l, I providehand grip bars 53 extending transverselytherefrom. Braces 54 are anchored at 55 to handle bar 5l and at 56, tothe outer ends of hand grip bars 53.

A cover roller 57, preferably having a convex periphery, is rotativelymounted at 58, on arm 59, which is pivoted to casing 6, at 60. A `Ushaped strap 6l, mounted on bar 52, limits downward movement of roller57. The function of roller 57 is to cover the furrow formed Vby the shoe26.

Reference Will next be made to an improved marker with which the deviceof my invention is shown equipped.

My improved marker includes a U-shaped marker carrying rod having abight portion or section 62 disposed lengthwise of handle bar 51, andhaving a marker carrying limb 63 and a handle limb 64. Screw eyes 65 and66 pivotally support said rod on handle bar 51 against movementlengthwise thereof and so that said rod can be shifted from one positionto another. The

handle limb 64 is diposed in a manner to engage brace bars 54 torlimitmovement of the rod in either direction. A marker stem 67 carries amarker which is shown in the form of a diamond shaped plate havingoppositely disposed apices 68 and. 69, either of which will enter thesoil and mark the same for the next row, dependent upon whether themarker plate is on the right vor left side of the handle bar 5l. It isunderstood that when the endof a row is reached andthe planter is turnedaround, the marker must be shifted so that it `will `always be on theland side. or in other words, on that side in advance of the rows to beplanted. Y f

. The marker stem 67.may be provided with an eye rotatively mounted on aysleeve on limb 63. Said sleeve may consist of enlarged portions 'l1 andan intermediate reduced portion 72 about which latter eye 70 isdisposed. Set screws or like means 73 may have threaded engagement inrportions '71,and engage limb 63 to secure the sleeve in the desiredrotative position, and also in a longitudinal position with respect Vtothe graduations on limb` 63 to mark the rows the desired distanceapart.A Stop or limiting bails, each composed of U-shaped wire andindicated at 74 and '75, are secured to the portions 7l not'only tolimit depth movement of the marker plate into -the soil, but also tolift the marker stem when the carrying rod is being reversed and disposethe stem in a position to descend b'y-gravity into engagement with thesoil when the rod s'reversed. Thus, it is not necessary for the operatorto stop and stoop down andadjust the marker Vby hand and it is onlynecessary to shift the marker by changing the position of handle limb64, as will now be clear.

While the operation of the device may be clear from the foregoingdescription, it will be briefly recapitulated as follows: Y

First, the proper ring A is selected for the type of seed to be drilledor droppedand the screws 19 are turned home to afford the right tension.The hopper is then disposed in position and anchored by set screws 35,whereby the open side of casing 6 will then be closed. The plate 37 willnext be adjusted to determine the depth of seed desired in casing 6, itbeing understood that small seed can be successfully used at a moreshallow depth than large seed, in most instances. The hopper will thenbe filled and after the marker has been properly positioned, theoperator may advance the planter on its Work.

The seed will instantly flow from the hopper into the casing 6, bygravity, to the depth permitted by the lower edge 40, of plate 37, ifthe latter is a part of the equipment, and if not, the upper edge ofopening 36 in wall 30, will function as a depth limiting edge. In anyevent, it Will be seen that the seed is delivered laterally into thecasing and upon the lower inner face of ring A.

As the planter is advanced, the disc 12 will rotate ring A, and the seedwill thus be advanced rearwardly with respect to the direction ofmovement of the planter, and as the ring A seeks to carry the seed withit, the seed will seek a normal level by gravity and this will result ina rolling motion'of the seed that greatly facilitates entrance of theseed into the apertures. Thus, seed subjacent the mass will enter thelower-most aperture near C, and fill the reservoir thereof wherebyclogging is made impossible, and Whereby each aperture may accommodate aplurality like means, will serve to cover thev seed, as will now beunderstood. I

It is believed thatthe method and apparatus of ymy invention will beclear from the foregoing description, andwhile I have herein shown anddescribed one specific form thereof, I do not wish to be limited theretoexcept for such limitations as the claims may import. 1

I claimz 1. In a planter, a seed casing having an interior ring racedisposed about a substantially horizontal axis and provided with aperipherally disposed seed discharge opening intersecting said race, anda driven seed releasing ring rotatable in said race and adapted toreceive and support the seed in ysaid casing and having one or'more seedreleasing apertures adapted to registerwith Idelivering seed to saidcasing laterally of and ontosaid ring to. a predetermined depth `in saidcasing.

3. In a planter, a seedcasing having an open side and provided With aninterior ring race disposed about a substantially horizontal axis andhaving aseed discharge opening intersecting said race, a driven seedreleasing ring rotatable in said race and having a series of seedreleasing apertures extending radially through Said ring for registrywith said discharge opening successively as said ring is rotativelyadvanced, a hop- .per having a rear wall adapted to close the open sideof said casing and said rear Wall being provided with a dischargeopening for delivery of seed into said casing and upon the lowerinterior face of said ring.

4. In a planter,`a seed casing having an open Iside and provided with aninterior ring race disposed about a substantially horizontal axis and fhaving anelongated seed discharge opening intersecting saidrace andextending from above the lowermost portion of said raceupwardly in adirection rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of saidplanter,a driven seed releasing ring rotatable in said race and having aseries of seed releasing apertures extending radially therethrough forYsuccessive registry with said elongated discharge opening as said ringis rotatively advanced', and a hopper secured to said easing and havingla rear wall closing the open side of said casing and provided with adischarge opening for delivery of seed into said casing and upon thelower interior face of said ring, and a slide movable abreast of theopening in said rear wall for regulating the depth of seed deliveredinto said casing.

5. In a planter, a horizontally disposed rotatively driven shaft, a seedcasing rotatably journalled on said shaft and having an open side and aside wall, a ring driving disc abreast of said side wall andnon-rotatively connected with said shaft to be driven thereby, saidcasing having an interior ringrace disposed rabout the horizontal axisof said shaft and provided with a seed vso discharge openingintersecting said race, a seed releasing ring rotatable in said race andconnected to be driven by said disc and having a series of radiallydisposed seed releasing apertures extending through said ring andadapted to successively register with said discharge opening, and ahopper closing the open side of said casing and having an opening fordelivery of seed into said casing and upon the interior lower face ofsaid ring, and a handle connected with said casing.

6. In a planter, a horizontally disposed rotatively driven shaft, a seedcasing rotatably journalled on said shaft and having an open side and aside wall, a ring driving disc abreast of the 1nsde face of said sidewall and xed to said shaft to be driven thereby, said casing having aninterior ring race disposed about a horizontal axis and provided with aseed discharge opening intersecting said race, a seed releasing ringrotatable in said race and tting against andbeing connected with saiddisc to be driven thereby and said ring having a series of radiallydisposed seed releasing apertures extending therethrough for successiveregistry with said discharge opening, a hopper closing the open side ofsaid casing and delivering seed thereto, anda retaining ring connectedwith said casing and holding said seed releasing ring against and inoperative relation to said disc.

7. In a planter, a seed casing having a ring race disposed about ahorizontal axis and having a seed discharge opening intersecting saidrace,

ing rows or planting hills, means for rotatably advancing a ring in saidcasing, and means for delivering seed to said casingv upon the lowerinner face -of said ring.

8. As a new and useful'article of manufacture for a planter asdescribed, a seed releasing ring band provided withone or more seedreleasing apertures extending radially therethrough between the lateraledges of said ring band. Y

9. Asa new and useful article of manufacture for a planter as described,a seed releasing and supporting ring band provided with one or more seedreleasing apertures extending radially therethrough, andrsaid aperturesbeing coned radially inwardly of said ring.

10. As a new and useful article of manufacture for a planter asdescribed, a seed releasing ring provided with one or more seedreleasing apertures extending radially therethrough and enlargedradially outwardly from relatively small intakek to relatively largeoutlet terminals, and the radially inner seed supporting face of saidring being linclined from the side PHILIP s. PALMER.V

